Salesman&#39;s portable office



H. H. VGEARY. Y SALESMAN'S PRTABLE OFFICE.

H. H. GEARY.

PIII-.ma sept. 21,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- www@ H. H. GEARY. SALESMANS PORTABLE OFFICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8. 19'I9.

Patented Sept. 21,1920.,

- a SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Ii; Gea@ j I-Be itknown that I, Hamm H.

Umrsn1i-sirA- ing it with a reminder system and the dates of thecalendar that it will be practically impossible to overlook mattersrequiring attention at certain times and places. A lfurther object is toprovide a safe, secure, and compact means for the carrying of papers,etc., in such form that they may be referred to immediately at any time.In the following description I shall refer to the accompanying drawingsin which- Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus or outfit embodying myinvention; Fig. 2, is a top end view thereof; Fig. 3, is a transversesectional viewon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1'; Figs. 4 and 5 are sectionalviews on the lines 4-4 and 5 5, respectively of Fig. 1';

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged detail views showing the manner of securingthe indextabs to the leaves of the expansible pocketile; Fig. 8 isa'perspective view on a reduced scale of the apparatus or device inclosed or folded position; Fig. 9 is an inside plan view of a modifiedform of the pocketileside of the portfolio; and Fig. 1 0, is' a planview of the same with va portion of the pocket sections 'swungoutwardly.. The outfit or device is substantiallyin the'form of aportfolio having a cover ofsuitable stiff flexible material, preferablyleather bound, and comprising opposite sections 1, 1b which may befolded together and secured in closed position by the snap fastenersocket mem bers 2 on the closure flap 1 engaging the buttons 2a on theback of the cover section 1; two socket members being provided toprovide for an expansion of the contents.

An expansible pocket-file for the reception of letters and other papersis secured to the inner side vof the cover section 1a and consists of aseries of leaves or partitions 6 I Specication et Letters Patent.application mea november a, 191s. serial lows f olds7,s'og-m`yfbeiiattenedftogether andexpandedor separated as-the .papers areledinthe '1njr-Es PATENT oFFicE. `i

f HENnY H. cnam?, or Fos'ronIA, omo.

.'sALEsMAN's PORTABLE orrrcn.

Patented Sep No ses 76o.

lLaura-al1siii. e685 t ythe vlesywesorfpartltions closedspaces -orpockets. Itisver convenient to separate the series of poc ets to exposethe contents of any by swinging the several the one to be examined,outwardly into alinement with thefcoverinfthe manner illusparticularpocket pockets preceding I trated in Fig. 10.and`this may be done be- "ycause the leaves or partitions are unconnected at the top andbottomedges.`

It somet1mes happens that a salesman'prefers to have the `top andhbottom edges con'- nected and in" such cases I continue the gusalongthe'top and.bot.

sets or bellows folds tom 'as well as the outside edge of the leaves asis obvious Withoutillustration.` The pockets open'inwardly towardthe'hinge portion l'of the cover and the inner edges of the leaves orpartitions are provided with index tabs 8. By arranging the pocket-file.in this manner it is practically impossible to lose any of thecontents, lthe pockets being clamped tightly when 'the portfolio is inclosed tened. -:Superposed upon the pocketi1e is a re- 'minder note bookconsisting of a suitable ,pages 10, each number of blank leaves or ruledto divide the page into a number of squares or spaces which are numberedconsecutively. This note book may be fastened in the uppermost pocket ofthe file by a cord 11. A cover sheet 12 of card-board or other suitablematerial protects the leaves and forms a support for pad calendars 14,15,

which are provided at the back with tongues lortabs 16 to be inserted inslits 17. in the cover sheet in the manner shown in Fig. 5. Thesecalendars are provided with index position with the closure Hap fastabsdesignating the months and each leaf` i is divided as usual to providespaces which bear numbers corresponding with the days of the month,these spaces being large enough to receive the index numerals or :otherreference characters which the salesman may insert'as hereinafterdescribed.

The lother cover section 1b :is provided upon the inner side with apocket 18 closed upon the sides and bottom and open at the top in whichsheets of carbon copyingv papelAL may be carried. A tablet of letterpaper 2 0 -which may have a blotter .cover and have V printed thereonthe letterhead of the house or concern with which the salesman is con,cent the flap to hold pens and pencils.

ln the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, l have not provided anyclosure means for the pockets at the top and bottom, as l have foundthat there is ver little danger of the papers slipping out o the spacesbetween the leaves, which 1 have designated pockets even when theportfolio is opened with the cover sections laid out flat in writingposition, and when the cover is in closed positionl as shown in Fig. 8,with the snap fasteners locked, the contents are clamped securely.However, inasmuch as it is sometimes deemed advisable to completelyinclose the pockets when the parts are closed, l have devised the formshown in Figs. 9 and 10, in which flaps 30 and 31, of suitable flexiblematerial, are secured to the inside of the cover section 1a under thepocket-file,

so that they may be brought over the file when it is closed and securedby straps 82, 3a which are attached to the flaps and provided with snapfasteners 2', a series being provided to accommodate the expansion ofthe pocket-file or portfolio. The parts of the portfolio may beseparated and laid out fiat to expose the contents of any pocket bythrowing the flaps 30, 31 back out of the wayvas illustrated in Fig. 10.

rlhe modern traveling salesman is a business man who is workingconstructively to establish and build up a trade in his territory forhis house or company and in order to be successfulY he must systematizethe large number of details so that he may act with precision. He cannottake a matter up intelligently or conclusively from memory of what hasgone before. He must have his correspondence showing actual facts,figures,

dates. details, etc., before him in proper chronological order. Myinvention provides a place for carrying all correspondence, etc., filedaccurately for quick reference with means for reminding of every detailneeding attention throughout the territory to be covered. rlhecoperative relation between the several parts of my device and themanner of using it will be understood from a few examples.

say space 16, he writes some such notation as- See about new hotel atKankakee. `Write dealer January 4th, arrange to go there about January20th.

He then places the number 16 in the calendar space for January 4th andperhaps also at January, '12th. As he cannot fail to habitually glanceat his calendar every day when he opens his portable oliice to attend tohis correspondence on January 4th he observes the number 16 and uponturning to the space designated by that numeral in the reminder notebook portion or tickler, he finds the note regarding the hotell atKankakee. Upon writing to his dealer in that city he'iles the carboncopy of his letter in the pocket-file under the first letter of theplace, viz., K and upon receiving a reply from the dealer stating theprogress in the construction of the hotel and information regarding thematerials required, he also files this under K, probably pinned to acopy of the letter to which it replies. On January 12th he againobserves the numeral 16 ou the calendar and upon referring to thecorresponding space in the reminder note book his memory is refreshedthat he must immediately arrange to go to Kankakee on the 20th and `uponopening the pocket-file at the letter K he has all correspondence andany memoranda giving details in regard to the goods which will berequired by the hotel, etc. lt will be observed that the notation on thecalendar merely refers him to a certain space in the reminder note bookportion; that the memorandum given in said reminder portion is a briefor notice .of the particular item from which index letter of thepocket-file is obtained where the full details are found.

A salesman on the road receives numerous letters, copies of letters,etc., from his house or firm regarding matters to be attended to when hearrives at certain towns. fle files the correspondence in the properpocket of the pocket-file or portfolio under the first letter of thetown in each case. On the night before arriving at each town thesalesman takes from the pocket-file all of the correspondence and notesfiled under the first letter of that place and is thus completelyreminded and informed and apprised in regard to his duties andengagements in that town. His own letters and reports are written on thetablets of letter-heads 20 and the carbon copy is filed in the portfoliounder the appropriate index letter.

The advantages to be derived from theuse of my invention will beappreciated especially by traveling salesmen and by those familiar withthe difficulties which attend the systematic conduct of correspondenceand business of the traveling man. rlhe provisiony of a reminder notebook, which the'complete details and correspondence in formsthe'intermediate connecting link between the notations upon the calendarand the portfolio, makes it unnecessary to Search through the entirecorrespondence when it is desired to ascertain merely what matters mustbe attended to. It also furnishes a concise summary of the items coveredlby `the correspondence so that the salesman can obtain a general surveyof the work to be accomplished in a given town or his entirev territoryvery quickly.

Many other ways of using this device will be apparent to the travelingsalesman and those familiar with his duties. yI have described in detailthe particular constructions illustrated in' the Iaccompanying drawingsbut it is levident that various changes and modifications, may b e madewithout departing from my invention.

I'claimzfy 1. In appliances of the kind specified, the combination of areminder form comprising a leaf or series of leaves having spacesnumbered serially for recording brief data of a project or. names andaddresses or other -indexable data, a calendar having spaces for eachday upon which reference characters may be placed corres ending to thedesired number or numbers of said reminder which contain data regardingfuture engagements, projects, etc.,l and a pocket-ile or portfoliocomprising a series of pockets to receive correspondence and informationbrieiy referred to in` said re- -minder spaces.

2. An appliance of the kind specified, comprising a cover havingfoldable sections,

v a pocket-file or portfolio secured to one sec-y 40 tion and having theouter side closed by gussets or bellows folds,.the pockets openinginwardly, a reminder form having leaves' reminder -endar form Jthe daysof each month in which reference esignating the spaces divided intospaces that are numbered seria calendar form having spaces corre-ltablet `secured to the opposite cover section.

3. An appliance of the kind specified, comprising a cover having oldablesections, provided at one end with a closure Hap, a pocket-ile orportfolio secured to one section and having the outer side closed bygussets or bellows folds,'the pockets y opening inwardly, the partitionsbetween the 'pockets carrying marginal indexed tabs, a form havingleaves divided into are numbered serially, a calspaces that havingspaces corresponding to characters may be placed correspondingtothe-numbers designating any of said reminder spaces, and a writing pador tablet detachabl'y secured tothe opposite cover section. 4. Anappliance of the kind. specified, comprising a cover a portfolio securedto one sectionl and having pockets opening inwardly, the outer sidebeing closed by gussets or bellows folds, means of the portfolio, aIreminder form having having foldable sections,

forv closing the top and bottom edges leaves divided intol spaces thatare num# S bered serially, 'a calendar form havin spaces correspondingto the days of each month in which placed nating any .of said reminderspaces, and. a' writing pad or tablet-secured to the opposite coversection. I

ln testimony whereof I aix mysignatur'e.v

imitar H. snaar; i

reference characters may be corresponding to the numbers desi'g-

